Can I come on a tourist visa and change my status once in France?

No. A tourist visa does not allow you to undertake long-term studies, and it is not possible to obtain a student visa once you are in France. You must apply from your country of residence.

When should I start my visa application?

As soon as your enrolment at Excelia is confirmed: the pre-enrolment certificate issued by the School is required to submit your application to the French embassy or consulate.

How long do I have to validate my visa in France?

You have 3 months from your arrival in France. Validation is completed online on the ANEF portal and requires a €50 tax stamp.

I am a European citizen: do I need a visa to study at Excelia?

No. Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland do not need a visa. A valid national identity card or passport is sufficient.

Applying for a visa

The Admission team is on hand to help you with administrative formalities, including obtaining your student visa.

Coming to study at Excelia? Depending on your nationality, you may need a long-stay student visa. Check your situation in 30 seconds, then follow the steps below.

🪪 For all students: proof of identity is mandatory. A national identity card is accepted, but we recommend bringing your passport if you have one.

Do you need a visa?

🇪🇺

You are a national of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland

✅ No visa required

A valid national identity card or passport is all you need to study in France.

🌍

You are from a country outside the EU / EEA

📌 Long-stay student visa required

For any period of study longer than 3 months. A tourist visa is not sufficient.

See the list of EU and EEA countries

The 27 Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.

European Economic Area (non-EU): Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway.

Also exempt from visa requirements: Switzerland.

⚠️ Special case: non-EU national living in the EU

Do you hold a non-EU nationality but a residence permit from an EU country, and are you coming to Excelia on exchange for more than 3 months? You must apply for a French student visa at the French consulate in your country of residence.

Your visa in 3 steps

These steps apply to students from countries outside the EU / EEA.

Enrol at Excelia

Start by completing your enrolment with the School: you will receive a pre-enrolment certificate, which is essential for your visa application. We strongly recommend enrolling before starting the Campus France procedure.

Apply for your visa in your home country

Submit your long-stay student visa application to the French embassy or consulate closest to where you live.

❗ It is not possible to obtain a student visa once you have arrived in France. The whole procedure must be completed from your home country.

If your country applies the Études en France procedure, your application goes through the Campus France platform.

Validate your visa online after arrival

You have 3 months from your arrival in France to validate your visa on the ANEF portal. Once validated, your visa serves as a residence permit.

Does Études en France apply to my country? →

🔁 Exchange or double-degree student?

If you are coming under a bilateral agreement, log in to the Études en France portal, click "Je suis accepté (échange/double diplôme)" (I have been accepted – exchange/double degree) at the top of the page, then select "étudiant en échange/double diplôme" (exchange/double-degree student).

Validating your visa: what you need

Have these 4 items ready before logging in to the ANEF portal:

✅ the details shown on your visa;
✅ your date of entry into France;
✅ your residential address in France;
✅ a €50 tax stamp (timbre fiscal), available from a tobacconist (bureau de tabac) or online directly on the ANEF portal.

Validate my visa on the ANEF portal →

The ANEF portal is in French. For a step-by-step guide in English, see the Campus France page on the long-stay student visa below.

Frequently asked questions

Can I come on a tourist visa and change my status once in France?: No. A tourist visa does not allow you to undertake long-term studies, and it is not possible to obtain a student visa once you are in France. You must apply from your country of residence.
When should I start my visa application?: As soon as your enrolment at Excelia is confirmed: the pre-enrolment certificate issued by the School is required to submit your application to the French embassy or consulate.
How long do I have to validate my visa in France?: You have 3 months from your arrival in France. Validation is completed online on the ANEF portal and requires a €50 tax stamp.
I am a European citizen: do I need a visa to study at Excelia?: No. Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland do not need a visa. A valid national identity card or passport is sufficient.

Everything about the student visa (Campus France) →